Combination dental instrument.



W. E. ALLEN.

COMBWATION DENTAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FIL ED MAR. HI 1915- Patented June 22, 1915.

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WILLIS EDW. ALLEN, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION DENTAL INSTRUMENT.

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Application filed. March 17, 1915.

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Be it known that I, VVILLIs Eow. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Dental Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in dental tools and has for its primary object an improved dental instrument embodying a rubber dam punch with forceps for applying a clamp to the rubber dam on a tooth.

With this and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form or embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view at right angles to Fig. 1, showing the laterally turned extremity of the members at one end of the tool to provide forceps for spreading the clamp. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of another form or embodiment of my invention, and Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of other modifications or embodiments hereinafter specifically referred to.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in all of the views of the accompanying drawing by like reference characters.

In that form or embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the tool comprises complemental members 1 and 2, that are pivotally connected intermediate of their ends, as at 3, and are provided at one side of said pivot with oppositely bowed handle members 4. The members are formed on the opposite side of the pivot with laterally turned extremities 5 whereby the tool will constitute a pair of rubber dam clamp forceps for spreading the clamp.

The primary object of my invention, as above outlined, is to provide a pair of forceps of this character with an improved punching device, and in that embodiment of the invention now being described, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22., 1915.

Serial No. 15,065.

punch is attached to the handle portions 4 of the forceps. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, a substantially U-shaped spring bar 6 is secured by screws, rivets, or similar fastenmg devices, to a base 7 formed on the extremity of one of the handle portions 4, the spring lying between the handle portions with its bend'or cross bar next to the pivot point 3. Only one member of the U-shaped spring is relatively fixed in place, while the other is free and this last named member of the spring is provided with an opening in which the punch die 8 is received, said die being preferably screw-threaded, as is also the wall of the opening in which it is received, so as to provide for any desired adjustment of the die. Preferably the head 9 of the die is slightly dished in formation for accurate engagement by the rounded extremity 10 of the adjoining handle portion. (lo-acting with the punching die is a die plate 11 rotatably secured upon the attached arm of the spring 6, and formed, as is customary, with any desired number and size of openings (not shown) as is usual in this class of tools. The spring 12 serves, as is evident, to move the handle portions 4 apart so as to close the forceps, and a sliding link or loop 13 is mounted on the mem bers 1 and 2 whereby the forceps may be held open when desired against the action of the spring 12.

From as much of the description as has preceded in connection with the correlated views of the accompanying drawing, it will at once be understood that the punch may be easily operated by moving the handle portions 4 together, whereby the rounded eX- tremity 10 will engage the head of the punching die 8 and cause the pointed end thereof to enter one of the openings in the die plate 11. By mounting the die 8 on the U-shaped spring 6, accurate registry of the die with the desired opening of the die plate 11 will at all times be assured and effective action will, thereby be secured.

In that embodiment of the invention illus trated in Fig. 3, the parts are substantially the same so far as the construction of the forceps is concerned, but in this embodiment of the invention, the punching die, designated 8 is adjustably mounted on the upper end of the curved spring 6 which is secured at one end to one of the handle portions.

4, with its free end lying in proper juXtaposition to the die plate 11. The operaend to the spring member just mentioned and bears upon the arm 8 and Joint-ed link rods 14 serve to force the arm 8 down so as to carry the punch to the die plate when the handles are closed. In this embodiment of the invention the adjoining portion of the U-shaped spring member 6 serves to guide the link rods in their movement, it being understood that the connection between these parts are such that the link rods where they oin the arm 8 and adjacent portion of the spring 6, may move slightly as the handles are opened or closed.

In that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the die plate, here designated 11, co-acts with the pivotally mounted die 8, the same being carried by one of the handle portions 1 and having a squared head adapted to be pressed upon by a spring 15 whereby the die may be held in the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to properly cooperate with the die plate .or be swung around to an inoperative position when not required for use. In this embodiment of the invention coiled springs 12 are used to force the handle members apart.

What I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A tool of the character described, comprising pivoted members formed with handle portions, a spring secured to one of said. handle portions and having one free end, a die plate carried by said handle portion, and a punching die carried by the free end of the spring and adapted to be engaged by an extremity of the other handle portion,

for the purpose specified.

2. A tool of the character described, comprising pivotally connected members formed with handle portions, a U-shaped spring secured to the extremity of one of said handle portions with its bend lying inward toward the pivot, and one end of the spring being movable, a die plate carried by the relatively fixed end of the spring, and a. punching die carried by the movable end of the spring and adapted to be engaged by the extremity of the other handle portion, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

lVILLIS EDV. ALLEN. Witnesses GUsT SUNDEEN,

A. E. UPPER.

Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

